Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer
CLOSETOPERFECT (left), is hard driven by Clive Lynch to stave off MARKET TRAIN (Richard Mitchell) in the sixth race for native bred three-year-old maidens over 1820 metres at Caymanas Park last Saturday. The lightly-raced filly collapsed and died on the track after being pulled up shortly after the race.

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

For the second straight week, there are no trophy races at Caymanas Park.

This brings into focus today's three-year-old and up overnight allowance race over the straight five course to be contested by 11 starters, including last year's Derby winner THE BOMBER, who races for only the third time this season.

Despite this, the four-year-old colt from the stables of Patrick Lynch is expected to start favourite, especially now dropped in class for this race.

THE BOMBER won at this level on his March 24 seasonal debut, when landing the Easter Sprint Cup over 1100 metres by three lengths from the then favourite, MR SKILL, who renews rivalry today on 1.0kg better terms.

Soundly beaten

THE BOMBER subsequently ran in open allowance company on July 12 and although installed a howling 2-5 favourite, was soundly beaten by RUM TALK over 1600 metres - a race in which he disputed the lead for a long way in fast splits before fading into sixth place.

Since then, THE BOMBER has been looking up at exercise and now that he's much sharper and the trip reduced, will prove hard to beat, especially down in class with only 53.0kg and hot jockey Dane Nelson aboard.

THE BOMBER is both a sprinter and a stayer, so he will by no means be inconvenienced by this, his first attempt over the straight. He is not the best drawn at post position two, but this should not play against him as he represents the class horse of the field.

Stiff competition

Still, the son of Outrigger-Nuttin But Red can expect stiff opposition from old rival MR SKILL, under champion jockey Omar Walker, as well as stable-companion NATURALLY ROYAL, the imported filly PURE SILK, PERFECT STEP and the course specialist TRIPLE ACCOUNT, who ran well for a long way over the course on July 23 despite grave interference from the subsequently disqualified winner, MUSICAL MAESTRO, leaving the quarter pole.

The Wayne DaCosta-trained MR SKILL is yet to win in four attempts this season and last time out on August 2, failed to capitalise on a golden opportunity when beaten into third place by the filly RIO INFINITO, in the Gerry Skelton Memorial Cup over 1100 metres.

The fleet-footed 3-y-o colt by Alisios out of Unatural, again stopped in the last furlong. But he represents the genuine speed here and being well drawn at post position 10, is worth another chance from the convenient mark of 52.0kg.

DaCosta, the reigning champion trainer, holds a good hand with both MR SKILL and NATURALLY ROYAL, who was not beaten far into fifth place by MUSICAL MAESTRO in the BG&LC Trophy race over 1400 metres on August 1.

Worked well

The four-year-old son of Royal Minister will much prefer the straight and having worked really well - galloping five furlongs from the gate in 59.2 last Monday morning - could prove the principal danger to THE BOMBER from the convenient mark of 53.0kg.

Other firm fancies on the 11-race programme are HEART OF STEEL in the third race, PRINCE NATHANIEL to repeat in the fourth, down in class I AM PAID FOR in the seventh, COLLEGE BOY in the eighth and SPACEMAN in the ninth.

Post time 12:30 p.m.